"I want them to know that this community sees them," said Tracy Hall, a member of the Smarr and Smith Foundation Advisory Board. "When you hit one of our officers, you've hit all of us and it was hard. It's hard."

She said that the way officers with the Americus Police Department responded that dark night in her time of need completely changed her view of law enforcement.

"I told them, don't worry about me. There are 3 men..gave them a description. They have a gun. And (the officers) went running," Hall said. "Knowing what they were running after into the dark made me have a whole new respect."

The Smarr and Smith Foundation started in January. The goal is to raise money that will go back to Sumter County law enforcement agencies for training, equipment and scholarships.